FRIDAY, AUGUST 10

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Acts 4: 20

Be Bold For Jesus

In today’s devotional Peter and John just healed a man who was crippled from birth with help from Jesus.  The priests, Captain of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees didn’t like it, so they put them in jail and told them not to speak about Jesus again.

Ever since I have been in prison, I have been witnessing for Jesus.  I have written letters to inmates in other prisons.  I have even written to people on the streets.  I talk about Jesus and our Heavenly Father throughout my day.  I am bold about Jesus to everyone except my family.  I have had trouble talking to them about God and what He has done for me.  I was afraid of rejection.  But God told me that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t see some of them in heaven.  Please pray for me that I will be bold for Jesus to my family.

We may sometimes be afraid to share our faith in Christ because people may feel uncomfortable or reject us.  But Peter and John’s zeal for the Lord was so strong that they couldn’t keep quiet, even when threatened.  If your courage to witness for God has weakened, pray that your boldness may increase.  And don’t be surprised if some people reject your witness.  When minds are closed, even the clearest presentation of the facts can’t open them.  But don’t give up either.  Continue to pray for them and show them the love of God and ‘never’ stop spreading the Good News.  God bless you. –C.J.

  Psalm 88        Judges 9:1–16, 19–21        Acts 4:13–31        John 2:1–12

Editor’s Notes

Greetings and welcome to another issue of Prisoner to Prisoner ^®. Before coming to prison July and August was always a time of looking forward to vacations and family picnics. On the fourth of July we always had a big cookout and watched the fireworks at a nearby park. In prison we try to avoid fireworks because they are usually a different type than what we prefer.

I am sure that the readers of Prisoner to Prisoner have the same memories of 4^th of July family picnics and summer vacations as the writers of Prisoner to Prisoner® also enjoyed. We can’t provide the fireworks or even the hamburgers and hot dogs that are missed by all of us. We can however provide you with spiritual food that we get from the Holy Spirit as we write our daily devotionals.

Prisoner to Prisoner is written by men and women from all parts of the country. I imagine that the celebration of Independence Day is similar whether in the North, South, East or West; fireworks and lots of burned hot dogs and hamburgers. Here at Prisoner to Prisoner we like to provide a different kind of food along with leading people to a different type of Independence Day; independence from sin and the cares of the world that have a tendency to weigh us down. Along with the spiritual food that can only be obtained through Jesus Christ we will have the freedom that many people who don’t know our Lord have ever found.

If you see someone who looks like they don’t have the independence you have found, you are encouraged to use this devotional as a tool for showing them the freedom you have found. –D.J.M. Sr. Resident Manuscript Editor

Questions?  Contact the P2P^® office at:  (937) 291-1624

Or email:  prisoner2prisoner@gmail.com

Download a P2P order form at:

http://kairosohio.org/PrisonertoPrisoner.html

“Prisoner to Prisoner (P2P®)is a 12 year-old ministry that was started in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. In 2002 Kairos Prison Ministry of Ohio took over the operation of P2P® with a vision that Kairos state chapters, churches, individuals and other organizations would help expand the distribution of the devotionals to all states and to other countries”.

I would ask you all to please consider helping to spread the word about the P2P^® Devotional.

Below is a copy of a recent appeal letter we sent out. Feel free to copy, print, re post, and share with anyone who may have an interest in this unique outreach to prisoners.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

IT! IS! HOT! It was hot in July of 2003 when two strangers walked in the door of the print shop, handed me a ragged looking booklet and asked if I could do anything with it. Before I knew it, I was sitting out in the yard at Marion Correctional having a meeting, in which we came up with the current format of the P2P^® Devotional. I have had the honor of printing the P2P^® since that time and have been a member of the Managing Committee since 2004. My life has never been the same.

I have suggested over the years that we tell people just what it would take for this Ministry to operate, for us to be self supporting, without special fund raising. It really is very simple, yet, is a difficult goal to achieve. Many of those that receive the book are obviously not able to donate. We are currently printing and distributing 14,000 devotionals, six times a year. If we received one buck, what amounts to a can of soda or a burger off the dollar menu, for each book that goes out, we would be able to meet all the financial needs, have funds for promotion, and seek ways of further distribution. One book…one buck…one life changed. A buck will feed a prisoner spiritually for two months! Now tell me that is not a better deal… than a happy meal! Can I get an Amen??

So, PLEASE SEND MONEY! OK, we have that out-of-the-way. Heck, you know that is why you received this letter to begin with. What I would like to see happen is for each one who receives this letter to take a little extra time and get the P2P^®  into the hands of others. Help spread the word about this Ministry. Just as much as we need a really, REALLY, BIG CHECK…we need to have your help in promoting the P2P^® Ministry. Could you help do that, please?

There were a few years that I personally took the delivery to Marion Correctional, where the books are repacked, then sent out to all the Ohio prisons. Each time, I tried to do the delivery when there was a “Prayer and Share” being held in the Chapel. There was one time that I walked out of Marion, sat in my truck…and cried, I mean bawled! I left the prison with a sense of how free some of the brothers there, were! The Holy Spirit was really present that day as we praised and worshiped our Lord. The P2P^® is helping some of our brothers and sisters “behind the walls” experience freedom and peace which goes beyond alllllllllll understanding, a peace that can only come through the person of Jesus Christ.

What a privilege to be a small part of that!

I pray that you all have a very blessed summer

Your brother in Christ,

Jerry Kohlbrand

P2P Ministry Managing Committee

brojer4jc@gmail.com

PS. PLEASE SEND MONEY! oh, wait…I already said that 😉

To request a subscription, make a donation, or for more information, please contact us at;
Prisoner to Prisoner®
Kairos Prison Ministry of Ohio
PO Box 750354
Dayton, Ohio  45475-0354

Phone: 937-765-6111
Email: prisoner2prisoner@gmail.com

+++BroJer

yada yada yada. yada. yadayada.

 

it’s all I got right now

 

dat all

 

+++Bro

You can learn more about Howard  at the FTD/Dementia Support Group

This is part of a full page story on Howard ,which can be found on page 9 of, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration Fall Newsletter.

Each morning starts with a familiar routine for Howard Glick as he collects his laptop and heads to his “office” at Starbucks in Upper Manhattan. The exact time varies, but he starts early, returns often, and continues his work at all hours of the night back in his apartment. There is a lot to do when you are telling the world what it’s like to live with FTD.
“Simply put,” wrote Howard, “I eat and breathe my efforts seven days a week. I am relentless in my efforts to further public awareness and help others.”
Howard started writing a blog in July 2011 about his experiences with frontotemporal degeneration with the intention of advocating for and supporting others like himself. His symptoms started manifesting themselves in 2004, but were diagnosed and treated as bipolar disorder for 6 ½ years. A 2006 SPECT scan showed early indicators of degeneration that were not recognized, but progression was clear in a 2010 PET scan and Howard learned he had behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD).
The prospects were daunting for a 53-year-old, divorced father of two who had lost his career, loving relationships and his future over the course of six years. When he researched FTD on the Internet, he began to fear his mortality and was afraid he would become depressed. A life-long friend suggested Howard have coffee with him and his wife every morning at 6:30 to stay connected. Days stretched into months, and Howard realized that death was not imminent and he needed to rebuild his life.

Please take the time to read the complete article at the link above.

Feel free to email Howard at the address below. (Let him know BRO  sent ya)

howardjglick@gmail.com.

You also may want to check out Vicki’s Voice where Vicki Wells Bedard (aka pain in my rear) shares her story, and days, and nights, and whatever rambling she wants to do! LOVE YA, V!!! (Bro gonna go hide now)

Share this information with anyone, no EVERYONE, YOU KNOW.

Thank you, Howard and Vicki, for sharing your lives with us!!

+++ BroJer

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas – no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday’.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason’ for the Christ-mas Season!

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!!!!!!! MARY-CHRIST-MASS
Jesus IS Lord. do NOT COMPROMISE this season for ANY reason!

HE, Jesus, was born to DIE for love of you, me, us. SHOUT IT OUT! don’t shut it out!!!

+++ BroJer

shhhhhhhhhh I stole it. ok, so I am on Santa’s naughty list. GOOD. I need coal. Will help keep the heat bill down 🙂

To: Jesus, Son of Joseph
Woodcrafter’s Carpenter Shop
Nazareth 25922

From: Jordan Management Consultants

Dear Sir:
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully.

As part of our service, we make some general comments for your guidance. This additional insight is given as a result of staff consultation, and comes without any additional fee.

It is our opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.
We wish you every success in your new venture.
Sincerely,

Jordan Management Consultants

DAT ALL +++ BroJer

No, it is about…um, well…I dunno yet. Just logged in for the first time in months. Soooooooooooooooo not even sure what I would share if I was in the mood to share.

Guess it is a no blog, blog, jus to see if the blog still blogs, or the blogger knows how to get into the blog, to blog.

Sumptin like dat!

Dat all

+++Bro

On March 15, 2011, (THAT IS TOMORROW) everyone with a blog, podcast, or Facebook page should list their favorite 3 blogs, 3 podcasts, 3 other media, 3 random Catholic things online, and their own projects. AND POST ABOUT TOMORROW, TODAY, 3 TIMES!! OR MORE! HA and HAHA

Then, post the link to your list here on March 15th. (TOMORROW ENDS IN “Y”) <–yes it do 😉

Additionally, to help get the word out, press are asked to write articles and press releases for this day.

Lastly, on March 15th, go to iTunes and leave at least 3 positive written reviews for various Catholic podcasts and 3 positive written reviews for Catholic mobile applications.

Catholic Media Promotion Day

Help spread the word to the ends of the earth!

Hope to see you there!!! ALL OVER THE BLOGOSPHERE/TWITTERVERSE/WHEREEVERRRRRRRRRRR

+++BroJer

On March 15, 2011, everyone with a blog, podcast, or Facebook page should list their favorite 3 blogs, 3 podcasts, 3 other media, 3 random Catholic things online, and their own projects.

Then, post the link to your list here on March 15th.Additionally, to help get the word out, press are asked to write articles and press releases for this day.

Lastly, on March 15th, go to iTunes and leave at least 3 positive written reviews for various Catholic podcasts and 3 positive written reviews for Catholic mobile applications.

Catholic Media Promotion Day

Help spread the word to the ends of the earth!

Hope to see you there!!!

+++BroJer

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

“O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive,

that I should not go down to the pit.”

Psalm 30: 3

Remember, He Still Does

The Psalmist tells us that God will save us from the grave and keep us alive even in tough circumstances.  We can see this in our prison situation.

There are times in a person’s life that something happens to them that makes a lifelong, lasting impression on them as to how they think, act, or believe.  There is one main thing that has taken place in all Christians’ lives that it seems to be taken for granted more and more all the time, and that is the fact that God has saved us from being the walking dead.  He is always with us to catch us when we start to fall so that we won’t end up in the place of the dead.

Here in prison we can look around and see people from all walks of life who are dead inside.  We can see all kinds of people who are among the living for they are living in Christ.  Even out in the world beyond these fences, it is the same way; we tend to forget what has been done and is still being done for us every day of our lives.

God gave His all for us in Christ, saving us from eternal death, and is now and forever keeping us alive through His grace and mercy.  So always remember that He is still working on and for us.  Grace, peace, and joy to you. – D.J.M.

Psalm 30, 32           Deut. 7:17-26           Titus 3:1-15           John 1:43-51

“Prisoner to Prisoner” is the only daily devotional that is written and edited…”by prisoners for prisoners”.

It also speaks to people in the free world. These devotionals are provided in the spirit and tradition of the Kairos Prison Ministries.

The ministry is SPONSORED by Marion Correctional Institution, Marion, Ohio and Kairos of Ohio Prison Ministry.

Please pray for the continued growth and outreach of the P2P Devotional!

Consider following P2P on FB and Twitter @P2PDevo

The Lord Loves YOU!!

+++BroJer

“P2P” is mailed to over 200 prisons and jails in America. We need your support to keep this work going! P2P is a 501c3 non-profit organization.